Balance and Strength Training in Older Adults: Intervention Gains and Tai Chi Maintenance

Wolfson, Leslie; Whipple, Robert; Derby, Carol A.; Judge, James O.; King, Mary B.; Amerman, Paula; Schmidt, Julia A.; Smyers, Donna

doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1996.tb01433.x

Cited by 427 publications

(276 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Also, limits of stability were reported to play a significant role in indicating susceptibility to falls (Girardi et al 2001). In the FICSIT study, TCC benefited elderly practitioners by maintaining balance gains following a 3-month balance training course, and established a trend toward further improvement in balance (Wolfson et al 1996). Tsang and Hui-Chan (2003) also confirmed that long-term TCC practitioners achieved greater limits of stability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

Is Tai Chi Chuan effective in improving lower limb response time to prevent backward falls in the elderly?

Wong

Pei

Lan

et al. 2009

AGE

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To evaluate the training effect of Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) in postural control and backward fall prevention in the elderly, balance assessment and visually guided lower limb response time were analyzed in a case-control study conducted in a community setting. Thirty-one elderly subjects (mean age: 68.2±6.8 years) participated in the TCC group, 30 community-dwelling elderly subjects with matched age and body composition served as the elderly control group, with 13 young adults (mean age: 27.5±3.8 years) serving as young controls. The TCC group had practiced TCC regularly five times per week, for over 30 min per day for at least 4 years. Lower limb response time were measured using a computerized dance machine that we developed, which contains two blocks during testing: single and dual feet. The motor planning of the latter is more complex than the former. Postural control was assessed by computerized posturography (Smart Balance Master). Compared to the elderly controls, the TCC group demonstrated significantly better balance performance in sway-referenced support, which is more challenging. Moreover, the TCC group had better dual feet response than the elderly controls in the forward-backward, forward-right and forwardleft directions. Practicing TCC may improve motor responses and postural control in the elderly, particularly in more challenging situations. Subjects showed better postural responses to unexpected perturbation in the forward-backward and forward-sideways direction than sideways or backward-sideways directions, which may have clinical relevance.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

Is Tai Chi Chuan effective in improving lower limb response time to prevent backward falls in the elderly?

Wong

Pei

Lan

et al. 2009

AGE

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“…24,32,33 Furthermore, our balance training program included exercises that closely mimicked reaching in standing tasks, thereby providing muscle activation associated with functional challenge of maintaining balance. 24,[34][35][36] We, therefore, suggest that the improved function during dynamic tasks might be at least partially attributed to enhancements of the muscle properties.…”

Section: Potential Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 85%

Positive effect of balance training with visual feedback on standing balance abilities in people with incomplete spinal cord injury

et al. 2010

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Objectives: (1) To evaluate the learning potential and performance improvements during standing balance training with visual feedback (VBT) in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) and (2) to determine whether standing static and dynamic stability during training-irrelevant tasks can be improved after the VBT. Setting: National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Tokorozawa, Japan. Methods: Six participants with chronic motor and sensory incomplete SCI who were able to stand for at least 5 min without any form of assistive device performed the VBT, 3 days per week, for a total of 12 sessions. During the training, participants stood on a force platform and were instructed to shift their center of pressure in the indicated directions as represented by a cursor on a monitor. The performance and the rate of learning were monitored throughout the training period. Before and after the program, static and dynamic stability was assessed. Results: All participants showed substantial improvements in the scores, which varied between 236 ± 94 and 130 ± 14% of the initial values for different exercises. The balance performance during training-irrelevant tasks was significantly improved: for example, the area inside the stability zone after the training reached 221 ± 86% of the pre-training values. Conclusion: Postural control can be enhanced in individuals with incomplete SCI using VBT. All participants showed substantial improvements during standing in both game performance and training-irrelevant tasks after the VBT.

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“…An early RCT by Wolfson et al [25] examined the impact of Tai Chi on maintenance of improvements achieved by healthy older adults (n= 110) after three months of intensive balance and weight training. Tai Chi significantly improved both strength and balance for six months after the intensive training despite decrements over the intervention period.…”

Section: Strength and Balancementioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Tai Chi Exercise on Physical and Psychological Health of Older People

Blake¹,

Hawley²

2012

CAS

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Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese form of conditioning exercise derived from martial arts and rooted in eastern philosophy and Chinese Medicine. Based on the inter-relatedness of mind, body and spirit this form of exercise focuses on producing an inner calmness which is thought to have both physical and psychological therapeutic value. This article provides a brief overview of selected current evidence examining the relationship between Tai Chi and physical, neurocognitive and psychosocial outcomes in older people. This is an emerging and growing area of research and improvements have often been reported in health functioning, physical and emotional health, reducing falls, fear of falling and risk of falls, and possibly enhancing cardiovascular functioning in older adults although the effects on bone density, cognitive and immunological functioning are less clear. Results overall are inconsistent and health improvements have not been evident in all studies. Tai Chi is becoming increasingly popular in practice, and more recent evidence is emerging which is based on experimental and longitudinal designs, although many of the proposed benefits of Tai Chi are yet to be validated in large, randomised controlled trials.

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Balance and Strength Training in Older Adults: Intervention Gains and Tai Chi Maintenance

Cited by 427 publications

References 56 publications

Is Tai Chi Chuan effective in improving lower limb response time to prevent backward falls in the elderly?

Is Tai Chi Chuan effective in improving lower limb response time to prevent backward falls in the elderly?

Positive effect of balance training with visual feedback on standing balance abilities in people with incomplete spinal cord injury

Effects of Tai Chi Exercise on Physical and Psychological Health of Older People

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